Wet muffler with cup-shaped baffles



Nov. 30, 1965 s. VERNET WET MUFFLER WITH CUP-SHAPED BAFFLES 2Sheets-$heet 1 Filed Oct. 29, 1963 INVENTOR. Seamus VEQNET,

ATTORNEYS- Nov. 30, 1965 s. VERNET WET MUFFLER WITH CUP-SHAPED BAFFLES 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001:. 29, 1965 INVENTOR. Seamus VERNET,

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent G 3,220,506 WET MUFFLER WITH CUP-SHAPED BAFFLESSergius Vernet, Yellow Springs, Ohio, assignor to Vernay Laboratories,Inc., Yellow Springs, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Oct. 29, 1963,Ser. No. 321,386 3 Claims. (Cl. l81-52) This invention resides in theprovision of a wet muffler suitable for use with internal combustionengines, and more particularly with those engines that involve theintroduction of water into their exhaust systems.

Attempts have been made in the past to provide mufilers with baflles soas to effect a mixing of gases and Water in an effort to reduce noise,lower temperatures and also to reduce back pressure. These mufflers andtheir baflies have taken many different forms. Typical examples of theseolder arrangements may be found in the United States patents to Bourne1,821,688; Hoifar 2,877,860 and Betts 3,077,240. These priorarrangements, however, have achieved only limited success.

,A very important object of this invention, therefore, is to provide arnufller incorporating a regulating means which will effect a reductionin engine noise condition to a much greater extent than has so far beenaccomplished by devices heretofore known in the art.

It is also an important object of this invention to provide a mufllerregulating means which lowers the temperature of the escaping gases fromthe engine system and which also reduces back pressure, all to a muchgreater extent than has been accomplished to date by prior artarrangements.

A further important object of this invention is to provide a mufflerregulating means which will effect a substantial reduction in thenoxious and objectionable gas odors emitted from the engine through itsexhaust system.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a mufller whichreadily lends itself to manufacture from a wider range of materials thanhas heretofore been economically feasible.

A further object of the invention is to provide a muffler which issimple to construct and which is durable in use.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent to the person skilled in the art from the description tofollow, keeping the foregoing remarks and objects in mind, and withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which drawings like numeralsare employed to designate like parts throughout, and in which FIG. 1 isa longitudinal section of a inufiier and regulating means constructedaccording to the teachings of this invention and shown diagrammaticallyas applied to an engine exhaust system which incorporates a water supplytherein,

FIG. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section of a modification of the invention,

FIG. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section of another modification of theinvention,

FIG. 6 is a section taken on the line 66 of FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is a section similar to that of FIG. 2 but showing yet anothermodification of the invention, and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a modified baifle which may be used as apart of this invention.

The objects of this invention are achieved by a unique utilization ofthe water content of the total exhaust throughput. This in turn isaccompanied by virtue of the relative location of the regulating meansin the muffler body, the distinctive shape of the baifle-like regulatingmeans, the location and configuration of openings in the baflle-likeregulating means, and the utilization of the muffler body configurationitself as an active agent in the total mufiling function.

A principal feature of this invention resides in providing the mutflerbody with baflle-like regulating means which have an opening oropenings, for the passage of gas and water therethrough, the crosssectional area of which openings will be substantially less than thecross sectional area of the inlet by which such gas and water enter themuffler body. This arrangement and relationship of internal baffleopening to muffier inlet serves to force the water and exhaust gasesthrough the baffle open.- ing at a higher velocity than exists at themuffler inlet. This in turn maximizes the co-mingling of the water andgases as they pass through the baffle openings. In the preferredarrangement of this invention only a single baflle is used, and this inlarge measure makes possible this area relationship between the battleopening, or openings, and the inlet opening. By way of example, if thearea of inlet opening is three square inches, the aggregate of the areasof the openings in such baflle should be in the range of two squareinches.

The mufller comprises a hollow body having an inlet which is connectedto the exhaust system of an engine and an outlet through which the gasesand water are finally discharged. The regulating means is locatedbetween the inlet and outlet and is so formed and positioned as to bringabout an extremely eflicient commingling of the water and gas within themufiler body. Preferably the baflle-like regulating means has a basiccup configuration which, together with the hollow mufller body itself,pro vides a maximum volumetric space for the unhampered expansion of thehot exhaust gases. At the same time the total arrangement is such as topermit maximum development of water intrusion into and across the areaof the outlet whereby to direct a curtain of water across such outlet.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, one embodiment of the invention will bedescribed. The hollow mufiier body, preferably but not necessarilycylindrical in form, is depicted as constructed of two members 10 and11. In this particular arrangement the section 10 is provided with aninlet 12 and the section 11 is provided with an outlet 13. The inlet 12is shown engaged with a header pipe or exhaust system generallyindicated at 14. As diagrammatically illustrated by the arrow 15, itwill be understood that both water and exhaust gases will flow throughthis system into the muflier. Whatever the precise arrangement, it is tobe understood that a combination of gases and water will enter themuffler via the inlet 12.

The baffle-like regulating means having a generally cupshapedconfiguration is generally indicated at 16. This member has an annularflange 17. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 this flange 17 is cut awayas indicated at 18 in order to provide an opening or passageway 18 forwater and gas, as will be described more fully shortly. The crosssectional area of this opening 18 should be substantially less than thatof inlet 12.

Preferably the elements 10, 11 and 16 are assembled as follows. Themember 11 is formed with an outwardly stepped annular portion 19arranged so as to form the annular shoulder 20. The parts are sodimensioned that the annular flange 17 (except where it is cut away asindicated at 13) will abut the shoulder 20 and the member 10 will bejust nicely received by the enlarged portion 19 of the member 11; themember 10 will also bear against the flange 17 thus holding such flangefirmly against the shoulder 20. All of the members 10, 11 and 16 may bemolded of polyester resin and fiberglass in which case the members 10and 11 are secured together by the application of an appropriateadhesive over the full surface area of those portions of these twosections and 11 that will contact one another when assembled. Inalternative constructions wherein the sections are made of metal, thejoint may be sealed against gas leakage by an appropriate sealant orgasket and held in assembly by welding, or other suitable means ofattachment.

Although the cup-shaped regulating means of baffle 16 is preferred, ithas been determined that a dlsc type baflie such as shown .at 30 inFIGURE 8 will suflice. Again, the cross sectional area of the opening(or openings) 30a in this bafile must be less than the cross sectionalarea of the inlet opening at 12.

It should be noted that the mufller of FIGS. 1 and 2 is composed of justthree basic elements, namely, the upstream section 10, the downstreamsection 11 and the regulating means 16. As indicated, the cup-likeregulating means 16 is inserted, protruding end first, into the upstreamend of the section 11 so that its flange 17 will engage the shoulder 20;this flange also has a snug fit within the enlarged portion 19 of thesection 11. The section 10, which also has a snug fit within the portion19 of the member 11, is then pressed home against the flange 17 toeffect, in addition to the lock secured by the adhesive aforementioned,a secure mechanical lock of the regulating means 16 between thedownstream end of the section 10 and the shoulder 20 of the upstream endof the section 11.

In one form of the invention there is a particular relationship betweenthe regulating means 16 and downstream casing section 11. The exteriorsurface of the member 16 parallels, throughout its major extent, theinterior surface of the section 11 so as to provide a uniformcircumferential channel 21 between the members 16 and 11. This channel21 extends from adjacent the flange 17 to approximately the beginning ofthe curved neck portion 22 leading to the discharge or outlet 13. Theimportance of this substantially uniform circumferential channel 21 willbe made clear as the description proceeds.

As has been earlier noted, the flange 17 is cut away as indicated at 18.In engine operations involving the use of this muflier, at low or idlespeeds the volume of water retained by the muffler is at a levelapproximately that of the lower limit of the outlet 13 in which instancethe opening 18 in the lower portion of the flange 17 is usually almostentirely obstructed by water; preferably the opening 18 is of such sizethat at least some small portion thereof will not be obstructed by waterin this condition whereby gases may escape through such unobstructedportions to the outlet 13. With increase in engine speed, and thereforeincrease in throughput of exhaust gases and water within the mufiler,the level of retained water in the mufll'er is forced lower and lower,thereby exposing to the rnufiier atmosphere more and more of thecross-sectional area of the flange opening 18, thus effecting a mostadvantageous balance between noise reduction and minimization of backpressure. With the construction shown and described, such reaction isfully automatic and self-adjusting. And all of this is accomplished witha mutfler composed of just the three basic elements 10, 11 and 16,arranged and configured as shown and described.

In the preferred arrangement of this invention the regulating means 16will be cup-shaped as shown and so disposed with respect to the inlet 12as to form the expansion chamber 24. And the channel areas 21 have beenfound desirable; these areas 21 will further the venturi effect achievedthrough the bafiie opening 18. The more important features of thisinvention, however, are the relationship of the bafiie opening area tothe input opening area, and a configuration which permits the exposureof more and more of the baffle opening with increases in engine speedand exhaust water and gas throughput.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a modification of the inventi n i il ustra ed.In t is modification the only change,

as compared with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, has been to providethe flange 17 of the regulating means 16 with an additional opening 23located substantially at the top of the muffler when in use. As earliernoted it is possible, when the engine is operating at low or idlespeeds, that the volume of water retained by the muffler will eitherentirely, or almost entirely, obstruct the escape of gases through thelower opening 18. The upper opening 23, however, will be above anypossible retained water level in the muifler during periods ofnon-operation, or slow operation, and will thus always provide a meansof escape for the exhaust gases during these times, and upon starting,even if the retained water should actually freeze during such period ofnon-operation.

The operation of the embodiment of this invention shown in FIGS. 1 and2, and in FIG. 7, will be further described as follows. As earliernoted, when the engine is operating at low speeds, all or a majorportion of the flange opening 18 may be covered by retained water withinthe muffler body, at which time back pressures may build up. These backpressures may be minimized either by constructing the opening 18 so thatsome portion at least thereof will not be obstructed by retained wateror by utilizing an additional opening such as that indicated at 23 inFIG. 7. With an increase in engine speed more and more of the water isforced out of the expansion chamber, which chamber is generallyindicated at 24 and which may be considered as comprised of the areadefined by the interiors of the upstream section 10 and regulating means16, through flange opening 18 and, after being confined within butdiffused circumferentially around, the exterior wall of the regulatingmeans 16 and the interior wall of the casing section 11 in thecircumferential channel 21, is impelled against the curved neck section22 whereby it is deflected up into and mixed with the exhaust gases atthe upstream end of the discharge opening or outlet 13, therebyeffectively reducing the noise and washing the gases to eliminate thenoxious odors.

As the engine speed is further increased there is a tendency to form afilm of water around the interior surface of the casing section 10 byvirtue of the centered position of the input opening for inlet 12 andthe configuration of the curved neck portion 25, these two elements 12and 25 in combination serving to direct the gaseous portions of theengine exhaust discharge down the center of the expansion chamber 24while a portion of the water is forced outwardly and flows downstreamalong the chamber walls. With the opening 18- (and opening 23 whereused) in the regulating means being located at the outer edge of suchmeans, the tendency for the water portion of the gas-water through-putto be forced outwardly against the inner surface of the casing section11 is continued and reinforced, this resulting in both casing sections10 and 11 being substantially lined throughout their entire length witha film of water of varying thickness, which adds significantly to thetotal mufl'ling effect.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a further embodiment of the invention is shown.In this arrangement the relative sizes of the basic mufller components10, 11 and 16 have been changed to those indicated at 18a, 11a and 16a.It will immediately be apparent that the regulating means 16a has beenconsiderably elongated. It is preferred that the components 10a, 11a and16a will be assembled in the same manner as indicated in FIG. 1. Thereis still a large expansion chamber 2411 which is defined by theinteriors of the members 10a and 16a. At the same time, however, thelength of the circumferential channel 21a has been considerablyextended. The flange 17 of the regulating means 16a may be provided withopenings in the same manner as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 7 or it may bearranged as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In these latter figures the flange17 is provided with a plurality of openings 26. The basic operation ofthe arrangements shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 will be generally similar tothose described in connection with FIGS. 1, 2 and 7. Specifically,returning to FIG. 4, the arrangement is such that more and more of theopenings 26 will be exposed to atmosphere with each incremental increasein engine speed and concomitant increase in volume of passed throughwater and gas with resultant lowering of the level of retained waterwithin the mufller.

FIG. 5 depicts an embodiment of the invention which includes a pluralityof regulating means, in this particular instance, two; more may beemployed if desired. As shown, there will be the casing sections b and11b along with the pair of regulating means 16b and an intermediatecasing section 11c. These components may be assembled in the same manneras those illustrated in FIG. 1, as will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art.

The arrangement of FIG. 5 provides, in effect, two expansion chambers24b and 27, and also a pair of substantially uniform circumferentialchannels 21b and 21c. These chambers and channels will operate andfunction in substantially the same manner as explained in connectionwith the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 3.

The flange 17 of the regulating means 16b of FIG. 5 has been illustratedas provided with the opening 28 which is best seen in FIG. 6. Theopening 28 is out not only in the flange 17 but also into the body ofthe regulating means 16b. Again, however, the arrangement is such thatat low or idle speeds at least some portion of the opening will beunobstructed by retained water within the rnufiler and, as engine speedsincrease, more and more of the opening 28 will be unobstructed, that is,exposed to atmosphere, thus reducing back pressure in a manner similarto the embodiments previously described.

The various embodiments of this invention, as generally shown in FIG. 1,FIG. 3 and FIG. 5 will operate substantially the same, as fullydescribed in connection with FIG. 1. It is believed, therefore, that afurther description of the operation is unnecessary at this time. Itshould be pointed out, however, that the various types of flangeopenings illustrated in connection with the various regulating means 16may be employed in any of the arrangements. Thus, for example, theregulating means 16 of FIG. 1 may utilize any of the flange openingsdepicted in FIG. 2, FIG. 7, FIG. 4 and FIG. 6; combinations of suchopenings may also be employed. Also, where applicable, these varioustypes and arrangements of openings may be employed in the disc typebafile 30 of FIG. 8.

Thus, in the adaptation of the muflier of this invention to specificinternal combustion engines, it is possible to combine any two or moreof the various embodiments in different ways to best and mosteffectively bring about, for such specific internal combustion engines,maximum sound deadening with a minimum induced back pressurecommensurate, for example, with the piston displacement, compressionratio, maximum rpm. and maximum g.p.m. of water and gas throughput ofsuch engine. The basic elements, and their functions, however, willremain substantially as shown and described herein.

Also, in the muffler of this invention, the unit comprised of the threesections 10, 11 and 16 of FIGURE 1, for example, may be reversed so thatwhat is normally the outlet 13 is attached to the exhaust system 14.This has the effect of reversing the flow of exhaust gases and waterthrough the muflier. Although some of the advantages of the expansionchamber 24 may be lost in such arrangement, and possibly of the channelareas 21 also, nevertheless very good mufiling effects will still beachieved. This is due to the importance of that arrangement wherein thecross sectional area of the bafiie opening is substantially less thanthe cross sectional area of the inlet (now 13), which arrangement willstill exist in this reverse flow form of the invention. And more andmore of the baffle opening will still be exposed as engine speedincreases, another important factor.

It will be further understood that while the invention has been shown asembodied in certain particular structures and arrangements, suchstructures and arrangements are not to constitute a precise limitationof the invention except insofar as they are specifically included in thesubjoined claims. In this connection it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that modifications may be made in this mufflerarrangement without departing from the scope and spirit of the claimswhich now follow.

I claim:

1. A wet muffler for attachment to an engine exhaust system which emitsWater and gas, said mufiier comprising a hollow body having an inlet andan outlet, a cupshaped regulating means located in said body betweensaid inlet and said outlet, one portion of said body and the interior ofsaid cup-shaped regulating means coacting to define an unobstructedexpansion chamber in the region of said inlet, and another portion ofsaid body and the exterior of said cup-shaped regulating means coactingto define a substantially uniform circumferential channel in the regionof said outlet, said cup-shaped regulating means having at least oneopening therein through which water and gas may pass in moving from saidinlet to said outlet, and said cup-shaped regulating means having anoutwardly extending'annular flange at its open end, said opening beinglocated in said flange.

2. A wet mufller for attachment to an engine exhaust system which emitsWater and gas, said mufiier comprising a hollow body having an inlet andan outlet, a cupshaped regulating means located in said body betweensaid inlet and said outlet, one portion of said body and the interior ofsaid cup-shaped regulating means coacting to define an unobstructedexpansion chamber in the region of said inlet, and another portion ofsaid body and the exterior of said cup-shaped regulating means coactingto define a substantially uniform circumferential channel in the regionof said outlet, said cup-shaped regulating means having at least oneopening therein through which water and gas may pass in moving from saidinlet to said outlet, said hollow body being comprised of two sections,one section having a telescopic fit with the other, and said cup-shapedregulating means having an outwardly extending annular flange at itsopen end, said opening being located in said flange, and said flangebeing positioned between said two sections.

3. A wet rnufller for attachment to an engine exhaust system which emitswater and gas, said muffier comprising a hollow body having an inlet andan outlet, at least one cup-shaped regulating means located in said bodybetween said inlet and said outlet, one portion of said body and theinterior of a said cup-shaped regulating means coacting to define anunobstructed expansion chamber in the region of said inlet, and anotherportion of said body and the exterior of a said cup-shaped regulatingmeans coacting to define a substantially uniform circumferential channelin the region of said outlet, each of said cup-shaped regulating meanshaving at least one opening therein through which water and gas may passin moving from said inlet to said outlet, said hollow body beingcomprised of a plurality of sections, one section having a telescopicfit with another, and each of said cup-shaped regulating means having anoutwardly extending annular flange at its open end, there being at leastone said opening located in each said flange, and each said flange beingpositioned between two of said telescopic fitting sections.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,264,853 4/1918Phyfe 18157 1,505,893 8/1924 Hunter et al 18144 1,614,633 1/1927 Smith18157 1,821,688 9/1931 Bourne 18l-57 X 1,822,990 9/1931 Gorsline 181-70X (Other references on following page) UNITED 7 STATES PATENTS Harley181-72 X Hollerith 181-49 Leadbetter.

Kliewer 18157 X Marx.

Lievense et a1 18157 Hofiar 18147 Morrish et a1. 181-57 8 Hendry 18161 XLyon 181-62 X Gerli 18152 Betts 18161 X FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain.

LEO SMILOW, Primary Examiner.

1. A WET MUFFLER FOR ATTACHMENT TO AN ENGINE EXHAUST SYSTEM WHICH EMITSWATER AND GAS, SAID MUFFLER COMPRISING A HOLLOW BODY HAVING AN INLET ANDAN OUTLET, A CUPSHAPED REGULATING MEANS LOCATED IN SAID BODY BETWEENSAID INLET AND SAID OUTLET, ONE PORTION OF SAID BODY AND THE INTERIOR OFSAID CUP-SHAPED REGULATING MEANS COACTING TO DFINE AN OBSTRUCTEDEXPANSION CHAMBER IN THE REGION OF SAID INLET, AND ANOTHER PORTION OFSAID BODY AND THE EXTERIOR OF SAID CUP-SHAPED REGULATING MEANS COACTINGTO DEFINE A SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM CIRCUMFERENTIAL CHANNEL IN THE REGIONOF SAID OUTLET, SAID CUP-SHAPED REGULATING MEANS HAVING AT LEAST ONEOPENING THEREIN THROUGH WHICH WATER AND GAS MAY PASS IN MOVING FROM SAIDINLET TO SAID OUTLET, AND SAID CUP-SHAPED REGULATING MEANS HAVING ANOUTWARDLY EXTENDING ANNULAR FLANGE AT ITS OPEN END, SAID OPENING BEINGLOCATED IN SAID FLANGE.